THE BERNIE THE BOOK COLUMN PAGE HEADER
IS THIS THE TIME FOR LUKE THE NUKE TO COME OF AGE OR SHALL WE DRESS THE DECK WITH DARTS & OCHE?
IT’S TIME FOR THE DARTS!!! And stepping up to the oche at the Ally Pally is not only the top tungstenistas and arrow artistes in the world, but also an audience overdressed in Where’s Wally costumes and Spiderman get-ups ,all professing their undying love for Beryl,Matilda or Daisy!! Yes it’s that jamboree once again over nearly three weeks, the PDC World Darts Championship and don’t we just love it. After last year’s incredible introduction, is it now time for Luke the Nuke to fulfil his destiny? 5/2 favourite and the darts sensation of 2024, does LUKE LITTLER at 17 represent good value to lift his first world crown in a sport that many believe he will eventually eclipse the greatest, the GOAT, Phil (the Power) Taylor. Surely not, and let’s be analytical, have we forgotten how great Phil was and this leaves an opportunity for grinches like me to perpetually lay rather than perpetually back. As I said 5/2 is simply ridiculous, and a man like me can’t afford to be made to look ridiculous. Let’s coldly analyse the stats. The darts world is bursting with new talent who represent danger at every step. And not just the players that many will know of that will cause damage, but the new brigade that many will not know. Secondly, Luke has just won his first major (plus the Premier league admittedly) and it’s a big step to believe he is practically unbeatable at an arena that is the Ally Pally. Thirdly, darts doesn’t respect achievement and whilst he hasn’t pummelled the opposition into the ground the way Phil Taylor continually did, the opposition will always believe he can be beaten until he does. So, let’s look at the names that will challenge. Now I’m not saying win, so please back each way, I’m saying that this year we might witness a new member of the elite tungstenistas.
THE NEW DUTCH INVASION Don’t be surprised to see column inches given to the following. MIKE DE DECKER GIAN VAN VEEN WIJNEM WESSEL
at 25/1 at 50/1 at 40/1
Yes the lager will be flowing in Amsterdam. I do believe one of the layers will be offering a
PHTM DECEMBER 2024
nationality of the winner and even though England will be bolstered by Luke x 2 and Michael Smith, I do believe if you can eke out a 11/4 offer, esp as that would include MVG, it MUST BE TAKEN. Do your research.
MATCH OF THE DAY Well, who to replace the legend of Gary Lineker at the Beeb?? I have always fallen into the camp of journalists over media stars and ex-footballers and in the battle for Gary’s replacement. I would always like to listen to someone like Mark Chapman over good telly like Roy Keane, Gary Neville or laughing boy Micah Richards. But someone like Chappers doesn’t necessarily mean Chappers, and I would advocate having a punt on Sky TV’s KELLY CATES at 7/2 to fill the breach. A consummate pro, incredibly knowledgeable and easy on the eye - always a consideration for TV executives) let’s hope she gets the gig
EFL CUP And just before Xmas we have the quarter finals of the League Cup. Looking at the odds, it’s 5/2 the field which isn’t half bad. The perennial question is; do the really big boys rotate their squad or play the first team? I think it’s testament to the respect this cup now enjoys (thanks to Pep), or maybe because there’s only three pieces of domestic silverware to be played for, that managers now don’t experiment too much. On that note, Arsenal at 11/4 are an excellent price but 11/2 for TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR is MASSIVE!!!. You know they say that Ange always wins a trophy in his second season...well it’s the Australian’s second season at the Lane… so take the 11/2 before it goes before the quarters.
That just leaves me to wish all my readers a Merry Xmas, but that is cliched so instead: back GREY DAWNING for the King George on Boxing day (7/1)/B365.
Good punting...
Bernie the Book 73
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